7 Ways to Have Fun With Bubbles

Forget the little bottle and the dinky wand. This is serious bubble fun!

By Stewart Coerver

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A Simple Pleasure

Every kid loves blowing bubbles. We defy you to find an exception. On a sunny day, it's a wonderful activity, whether it's just you and your grandchild or a whole gang of little ones. We have assembled our favorite bubble tricks, tips, and activities to help you make bigger, more colorful, more exciting bubbles together. Don't forget your camera! Bubbles make for great photo ops, too.

Paper Bubble Cone

For big bubbles, the best tool to use is a piece of paper. Make a paper cone by rolling a sheet of 8-1/2-x-11-inch paper. Tape the smaller end so the cone shape holds. Cut the wide end so it is a more circular opening, being sure to leave no points or rough edges. Stand your cone in the shallow dish of bubble solution, allowing it to soak up solution for a few seconds. Lift the cone to your mouth, tilt it up, and blow on the smaller end. Practice using a steady stream of air to make the bubble grow. To release your bubble from the cone, gently pinch the wide end of the cone or quickly flick the cone to shake the bubble off.

Make Your Own Super Bubbles

Follow this recipe to make super strong bubbles. Add food coloring for extra fun. You will need:

Stir the gelatin into the hot water until it’s dissolved. Mix in the glycerin and shampoo, gently stirring. The solution will gel as it cools.

Create Bubble Art Together

This project is messy, so do it outside or in a room prepared with newspaper or a tarp. You will need:

Bowls for bubble solution

Bubble solution

Tempera paints in multiple colors

Paper for your art

Set out one bowl for each color of paint you will use. Pour one cup of solution into each bowl, then add a teaspoon of tempera paint to each. Stir. Have your grandchild select a color and blow a bubble toward you. Your job is to "catch" the bubble, so it pops on the paper. The bursting bubble creates a unique splatter. Layer colors to make cool patterns. Switch roles and have fun seeing what designs you can create.

Make Your Own Bubble Wands

Wire hangers: Use pliers to stretch the hanger into a circle or oval. Be sure to cover any sharp edges with duct tape to prevent scrapes. For better bubbles, wrap the wand in cotton string or pipe cleaners, which will absorb liquid and allow you to blow bigger bubbles. Six-pack holders and produce baskets: Shapes like these make for amazing compound bubbles because they have multiple holes. Your fingers: This is a fun trick you and the kids can practice. Make an "OK" sign with your hand and dunk your finger-thumb circle into the solution. Blow through your hand wand. Use your imagination: Look around the house for plastic items with holes that you can try.

Blow Bubbles Within Bubbles

It's neat to show kids how you can blow bubbles inside bubbles (and even bubbles inside those bubbles). It's easy: Pour bubble solution into a shallow dish. Dip one end of a straw into the mixture, slowly blow a bubble, and rest it on the surface of the solution. Wet the straw end again in the solution and gently penetrate the bubble with it (a dry straw will pop the bubble). Repeat the first step to create a bubble inside the bubble. How many layers can you make?

Lava Lamp Experiment

This bubble science experiment is fun to do and watch. Make your own variations together. You will need:

Clear pint glass or similar-size glass

Water

Vegetable oil

Salt

Pour water into the glass until it is three quarters full. Add about 1/2 inch of oil to the water. It will float because it is less dense than water. Sprinkle salt into the glass and see what happens. Cool, right? Think of other powdery substances you can substitute for salt in the experiment — dirt, flour, sugar, etc. Is the effect the same, or does something different happen?